2014 LA Kings Draft Thread

[Raccoon Jesus]

Thanks for correction. I was close

Kind of funny that we seem fearless of Russians but have very little other presence. Notably Finnish and Swedish, but yeah, Swiss, etc.

 

[Zaddy]

I don';t think it's 'wrong' to draft Husso either, just saying I don't expect it and explaining why. If the guy falls hard, I can see LA grabbing him, like the did with Fasching who was pegged as a 2nd rounder but LA got him in the 4th.

I don't expect it either but I think they'd be as pleased or even more pleased with him in the future as they'd be with whoever they might pick instead. It's obviously too early to tell but I think he could be on the same career trajectory as fellow finn Tuukka Rask. Both are about the same size, both were very good in the finnish league as 18 year olds and I'm pretty sure he'll stay another season, go over to AHL for 2 seasons and then establish himself as a solid goaltender in the NHL.

Now, he might not become as good as Rask (though I think that largely depends on which team he'll end up, he'd look supergood on the Kings) but I really do think he'll become a solid netminder in the NHL for years to come. Never hurts to have a guy like that in the pipeline on a position as vital as G.

Who would you rather get in the 2nd round in this years draft? If it was last year, sure, get someone else, but in this years draft?

 

[CNS]

Thanks for correction. I was close

Kind of funny that we seem fearless of Russians but have very little other presence. Notably Finnish and Swedish, but yeah, Swiss, etc.

Exactly. We just tend to stay away from Swedes and Finns a lot more than I'd like. Not saying we NEED guys from there but it just seems like we don't go after these guys much at all.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Exactly. We just tend to stay away from Swedes and Finns a lot more than I'd like. Not saying we NEED guys from there but it just seems like we don't go after these guys much at all.

And I wonder why that is, especially because in recent years Finland has played more of a "north american" style game than most other countries. In any case, would be a great interview question for Kings staff!

 

[CNS]

And I wonder why that is, especially because in recent years Finland has played more of a "north american" style game than most other countries. In any case, would be a great interview question for Kings staff!

What are you trying to say!?

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

What are you trying to say!?

Wink wink

 

[CNS]

Wink wink

Haven't even seen Deano or Blake in Manch in months now. One of the two was there every weekend to start the year but now they're gone. Would be interesting to ask.

 

[David Strorm]

With the third rounder from Edmonton, I would definitely go goalie.

We don't draft really draft Europeans. Not a fan of it. Regarding Husso,if Thatcher Demko was still there, I'm confident DL is taking him over anybody.

 

[CNS]

With the third rounder from Edmonton, I would definitely go goalie.

We don't draft really draft Europeans. Not a fan of it. Regarding Husso,if Thatcher Demko was still there, I'm confident DL is taking him over anybody.

Just because he played for the Jr. Kings doesn't mean Dean takes him. He's a good goalie but I wouldn't be so sure he's a slam dunk Kings pick, though I wouldn't mind seeing him nabbed if we could. Remember Dean passed on Etem and Bennett in LA so hometown boys mean jack **** to him.

 

[KingKopitar11*]

European tend to have a lot of individual talent, good danglers, skaters etc. Something the kings need to start drafting, our drafts have very similar players that play a role game less of a talent game. DL needs to start drafting from Sweden and Finland a lot more.

 

[motalar]

Is Christian Ruutu the first european scout the Kings have had?

 

[David Strorm]

Just because he played for the Jr. Kings doesn't mean Dean takes him. He's a good goalie but I wouldn't be so sure he's a slam dunk Kings pick, though I wouldn't mind seeing him nabbed if we could. Remember Dean passed on Etem and Bennett in LA so hometown boys mean jack **** to him.

I didn't know he was a jr King. Dean loves his college players, so it would not be a surprise compared to a kid from the Liiga. Not saying I wouldn't take Husso, but I doubt DL looks at him before round 4.

 

[kingsfan]

I don't expect it either but I think they'd be as pleased or even more pleased with him in the future as they'd be with whoever they might pick instead. It's obviously too early to tell but I think he could be on the same career trajectory as fellow finn Tuukka Rask. Both are about the same size, both were very good in the finnish league as 18 year olds and I'm pretty sure he'll stay another season, go over to AHL for 2 seasons and then establish himself as a solid goaltender in the NHL.

Now, he might not become as good as Rask (though I think that largely depends on which team he'll end up, he'd look supergood on the Kings) but I really do think he'll become a solid netminder in the NHL for years to come. Never hurts to have a guy like that in the pipeline on a position as vital as G.

Who would you rather get in the 2nd round in this years draft? If it was last year, sure, get someone else, but in this years draft?

I don't know who I'd like to get yet. I usually wait until the playoffs (for juniors) before I start making my list. So outside of some guys I have in my mind for a 1st, I haven't given it a lot of thought. LA also doesn't have a 2nd if Toronto elects to wait until the 2015 draft to give them their 2nd.

And I wonder why that is, especially because in recent years Finland has played more of a "north american" style game than most other countries. In any case, would be a great interview question for Kings staff!

We don't have much of a scouting precense over there if memory serves me right. I think we shored that up some this year or so (Ruutu?) but we haven't had much in the past. We obviously have someone in Russia

 

[King'sPawn]

And I wonder why that is, especially because in recent years Finland has played more of a "north american" style game than most other countries. In any case, would be a great interview question for Kings staff!

Well, it's up to Lombardi to decide how he wants to allocate his scouts. He's drafted even fewer Czechs and no Slovaks since taking over the Kings.

More of his draft trends will be mentioned hopefully in an upcoming series of articles on Mayor's Manor.

 

[KingLB]

I didn't know he was a jr King. Dean loves his college players, so it would not be a surprise compared to a kid from the Liiga. Not saying I wouldn't take Husso, but I doubt DL looks at him before round 4.

I'm not sure he was. If he was it was only a year, he is from SD I believe and was mostly a Gulls player.

 

[Rorschach]

I think the only way we get a player in this draft that can play for us while the window is still open is if we draft an elite bottom six player. Other than that we just draft BPA, develop the guy and maybe trade him in the next few trade deadlines.

 

[Vino]

Is Christian Ruutu the first european scout the Kings have had?

No, former TPS-player Ari Vuori was LA Kings scout 1996-2007.

http://www.eliteprospects.com/staff.php?staff=206

 

[Fat Elvis]

What are our updated picks?

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

The Toronto 2nd rounder from the Bernier trade will now be a 2015 selection. Due to Holland meeting his condition, the Ducks get Toronto's 2nd this year.

 

[drugold]

Wink wink

And when they answer with "oh it has just worked out this way" ask; what prospects from such negated nations have you had brought to your attention/ personally been interested in? I for one would be interested in which European late draft picks they thought were worth the bet (Schuie) and if they did/ do pan out. Do it super nes

 

[Fat Elvis]

The Toronto 2nd rounder from the Bernier trade will now be a 2015 selection. Due to Holland meeting his condition, the Ducks get Toronto's 2nd this year.

So, as it stands right now. LA has;

1st
(2) 3rds Edm+LA
4th
5th
(2) 6's Car+LA
(2) 7's NYR+LA

 

[Whiskeypete]

So, as it stands right now. LA has;

1st
(2) 3rds Edm+LA
4th
5th
(2) 6's Car+LA
(2) 7's NYR+LA

as much as most of us would like to see a move made to jump start this team. Dean has to hold on to this 1st, otherwise he has nothing until early in the 3rd round (EDM). if he trades the pick away that would only be one 1st rounder in the past four drafts (Pearson in 2012). even if he had a high 2nd to supplement it wouldn't be that bad, but having nothing until around the 90th pick (EDM's 3rd) is harsh

 

[kingsfan]

as much as most of us would like to see a move made to jump start this team. Dean has to hold on to this 1st, otherwise he has nothing until early in the 3rd round (EDM). if he trades the pick away that would only be one 1st rounder in the past four drafts (Pearson in 2012). even if he had a high 2nd to supplement it wouldn't be that bad, but having nothing until around the 90th pick (EDM's 3rd) is harsh

EDM's 3rd would be around 61-65 overall.

 

[bral]

The Toronto 2nd rounder from the Bernier trade will now be a 2015 selection. Due to Holland meeting his condition, the Ducks get Toronto's 2nd this year.

Which is fine. 2015 is supposed to be a stronger/deeper draft right?

 

[palffytofrovlov]

2014 draft
LA 1st
LA 2nd (wikipedia says this pick which they got back from Buffalo goes to Columbus)
Edm 3rd
LA 3rd (Conditional to Columbus)
LA 4th
LA 5th
Car 6th
LA 6th
LA 7th

2015 draft
LA 1st
Tor 2nd (Bernier trade)
LA 2nd
LA 3rd
LA 4th
LA 5th
LA 6th
LA 7th